HC Deb 17 January 1997 vol 288 c423W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people are currently in detention camps in Hong Kong; if the governor will exercise discretionary compassionate powers enabling them to remain in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [11062]

Mr. Hanley

As of 16 January this year, 5,836 Vietnamese migrants were held in detention centres in Hong Kong compared with 20,225 on 1 January 1996.

Hong Kong is working to implement the internationally agreed comprehensive plan of action which provides for the return to Vietnam of all Vietnamese asylum seekers who have been determined to be non-refugees. It remains an important objective of the British and Hong Kong Governments to complete that repatriation process as soon as possible.

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